Japanese Gravestones Memorialize the Dead With QR Codes

QR codes are practically everywhere in Japan nowadays, but here’s a unique take on the technology: Japanese gravestone maker Ishi no Koe ("Voice of the Stone") recently announced plans to begin selling gravestones with the two-dimensional bar codes embedded into them.

By simply snapping a shot of the tag with their cellphones, visitors will be able to view photos, videos and other information about the deceased. The device would also keep a log of each time the code was scanned so family members can keep up to date with when other relatives last visited the site.

In the future, Ishi no Koe hopes to use this technology to develop a new way to pay respect to the dead that wouldn’t require you to actually be at the cemetery in person. The company sees this as an alternative especially fitting for today’s younger generation.